FoodUPV – Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)

Name

FoodUPV – Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)

Legal name

Instituto Universitario de Ingeniería de Alimentos - FoodUPV (Universitat Politècnica de València)

Website

https://food.upv.es

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agrifood R&D and Food Engineering Research Services

NAICS

Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAKAJAD

Foods for Special Dietary Needs Manufacturing (Gluten-Free, Allergen-Free, Low-FODMAP, Low-Sodium)

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Processing & Manufacturing/Specialty & Functional Foods Manufacturing (Organic, Fortified, Medical Foods)

SECONDARYAFALADAE

Import/Export & Border Compliance Support (FSVP, Prior Notice, Health Certificates)

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Safety, Testing & Certification/Regulatory Compliance Testing & Consulting (FDA/USDA/EFSA, HACCP)

SECONDARYAFAKACAD

Canned Meat, Poultry & Seafood Manufacturing

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Processing & Manufacturing/Canned, Frozen & Preserved Foods Manufacturing

SECONDARYAFAKAJAG

Functional Snacks & Bars Manufacturing (High-Protein, High-Fiber, Probiotic Snacks)

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Processing & Manufacturing/Specialty & Functional Foods Manufacturing (Organic, Fortified, Medical Foods)

SECONDARYAFANAKAF

Bioprocessing & Fermentation Manufacturing (Bioreactors, Scale-Up, Toll/CMO)

Agriculture & Food Production/Meat, Poultry & Seafood Processing/Meat Alternatives (Plant-Based and Cultivated)

Keywords

• Food engineering research
• Agrifood technology transfer
• Food safety testing
• Contract research services
• Active food packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Valencia, Valencia

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

FoodUPV (Instituto Universitario de Ingeniería de Alimentos) is a university research institute that provides applied food engineering research, analytical and sensory laboratory testing, and technology transfer services to the agrifood industry. Its work spans product and process development, food safety and quality assurance, sustainable packaging, bioactive compound encapsulation, and specialized food design (e.g., modified texture foods), delivered via collaborative R&D contracts, master's and industrial PhD programs, and public-funded research projects.

Product overview

FoodUPV (Instituto Universitario de Ingeniería de Alimentos) is a university research institute at the Universitat Politècnica de València, not a commercial product company. The institute provides research services, testing and analysis capabilities, and technology transfer services to the food industry. Its offerings include laboratory analysis services (microbiological, compositional, sensorial), specialized research capabilities (food packaging development, non-destructive testing, bioactive compound encapsulation), and training/education programs. These are service offerings and research capabilities rather than commercial software or hardware products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Contract Research and Technical Assistance Services Collaborative R&D and technical assistance projects with agrifood companies covering product development, process optimization, food safety, and quality control across the food value chain.
• Laboratory Analytical and Sensory Testing Services Microbiological, compositional, and sensorial analysis of food products, leveraging in-house laboratories and analytical capabilities (spectroscopy, ultrasound, encapsulation, digestion models).
• Technology Transfer and Patrons' Program (Patronato de Empresas) Structured program to transfer FoodUPV's research outputs, capabilities, and innovations to agrifood companies, with close industry contact channels and collaborative engagement.
• Master's Programs in Food Safety and Quality University master's-level training programs (e.g., Máster Universitario en Gestión de la Seguridad y Calidad Alimentaria) delivered by FoodUPV/UPV to train professionals for the agrifood industry.
• Industrial PhD and Company Internships Program Industrial PhD program (doctorado industrial) and student internships in companies, providing in-company training and doctoral research placement with industry partners.
• Active and Biodegradable Food Packaging Development Applied research and development of biodegradable active packaging materials incorporating natural antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds for food preservation.
• Bioactive Compound Encapsulation Services R&D services for nano- and micro-encapsulation of bioactive compounds using liposomes, high-pressure emulsification, spray drying, and polymeric supports for controlled release applications.
• Modified Texture (ATM) Food Development Development of foods with modified textures for people with chewing or swallowing difficulties, including elderly populations and patients with neurological disorders.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Cándido Miro, S.A.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCándido Miro, S.A. is a company partner that led the NEWGENOL project for developing new generation table olives with bioconservation, sustainability, and valorization. The project involved collaboration between the company and FoodUPV researchers.
• Hospital La Fe (Valencia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research unit (Unidad Mixta) focused on Precision Nutrition for Digestive Pathologies (NUTRICURAPDig), combining Hospital La Fe's clinical expertise with FoodUPV's food science research capabilities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CNTA (Centro Nacional de Tecnología y Seguridad Alimentaria): Spanish food technology center in Navarra providing analytical services, R&D, and technology transfer to the Spanish food industry. Directly comparable to FoodUPV's laboratory analysis, testing, and applied research service model.
• AZTI: Spanish food and marine research center based in the Basque Country providing applied R&D, testing, and technology transfer to the food industry. Directly comparable to FoodUPV as a non-profit applied food research institute serving Spanish agrifood companies through contract research and public grants.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging (IVV): German Fraunhofer institute specializing in food processing, packaging, and quality analytics with strong industry contract research model. Directly comparable to FoodUPV's packaging, spectroscopy, and encapsulation capabilities, and operates under the same public-private R&D hybrid model.
• IRTA (Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries): Catalan government agrifood research institute offering applied research, technology transfer, and training to Spain's food sector. Comparable to FoodUPV in mission, public funding model, and focus on agrifood SMEs, though larger and more regionally diversified within Catalonia.
• AINIA (Centro Tecnológico Agroalimentario): Spanish agrifood technology center in Valencia providing testing, R&D, and innovation services to food companies. Highly comparable to FoodUPV given shared Valencia location, similar technology transfer mission, and overlapping capabilities in food safety and process development.

Broad incumbents

• INRAE (Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement): France's national public research institute for agriculture, food, and environment, conducting fundamental and applied food science research. Comparable to FoodUPV in public-mandate applied food research and grant-funded model, though at much larger institutional scale.
• CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas): Spain's largest public research institution, encompassing food science groups within its broader multidisciplinary portfolio. Comparable to FoodUPV in Spanish public research mandate, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader scientific scope.
• Wageningen University & Research (WUR): Netherlands-based global leader in food and agricultural research, offering applied R&D across the entire agrifood value chain. Comparable in core food engineering and applied research mandate, though operating at vastly larger scale and global footprint.

Regional players

• Teagasc: Ireland's agriculture and food development authority providing applied food research, training, and technology transfer. Comparable to FoodUPV in integrated research-education-industry service model and public funding base, though geographically focused on Ireland rather than Spain.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finland's applied research organization with dedicated food and biotechnology research programs serving Nordic industry. Comparable to FoodUPV in applied food R&D, encapsulation, and packaging research capabilities under a publicly-funded applied research mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foodupv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FoodUPV – Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)